Harry Potter: 12 years old, black tousled hair, bright green eyes, glasses, lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Naïve, a bit shy at times, kind, compassionate, curious. Discovers that he is a wizard, and a rather famous one at that, when he is invited to attend the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is famous because, as an infant, he somehow survived an attack by Voldemort, the world’s most powerful evil wizard.
Fact #2: Fiction is all about what a character wants.
More than anything in the world, Harry wants a family. He is orphaned as an infant when his parents are killed by Volde- mort. He is sent to live with his closest relatives, Petunia and Vernon Dursley, his uncle and aunt, and their exceedingly obnoxious son, Dudley. The Dursley’s treat him badly and, through their abuse and neglect, he grows up to be a lonely, confused, and often depressed young boy.
Fact #3: Fiction is all about how a character gets or does not get what he or she wants.
Does Harry get what he wants? In a way, yes he does. Harry joins the family of wiz- ards at Hogwarts. During his first year as a member of Gryffindor House, he forms sibling-like bonds with Hermione Granger and the Weasley brothers. Hagrid, the school groundskeeper, is like an uncle or a big brother to Harry; Dumbledore takes on a fatherly role. Together, these people be- come the family Harry lost when Voldemort killed his parents.
Fact #4: Fiction is all about how a character changes.
In the beginning, Harry is sul- len and scared. He spends most of his time locked in a small closet beneath the basement stairs. When the Dursleys let him out, he is taunted and terrorized by their son Dudley. Harry is misera- ble and hopeless, a victim of his unfortunate circumstances. At the end of the story, while sad to be returning temporarily to the home of his aunt and uncle, Harry is no longer helpless, hopeless, and hapless. In his year at Hogwarts he has gained tremen- dous self-confidence and a better understanding of who he is and what his life is all about. The lesson of the story is this: If we’re lucky enough to find out who we really are, and if we have the courage to claim our true power and embrace our destiny, we can take control of our world instead of letting it take control of us.
Fact #5: Fiction is all about a world an author creates.
Who are the people (and ani- mals) in this world? Muggles (regular humans), wizards, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Hermione, Ron, Voldemort, snooty professors, snotty cousins, a mean uncle and aunt, great friends, poor people, rich people, kind people, evil people, baby dragons, three-headed dogs, ghosts, and so on. What are the important places in the story? The Dursley’s home on Privet Drive, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Diagon Alley, the train station, the Quidditch field., Hagrid’s cottage, the forest. What are the important things? Magic, quidditch, spells and potions, a lightning-shaped scar, the sorcerer’s stone, magic wands, flying brooms, a cape that makes you invisible, a mirror that shows you what you really want. What ideas is the writer working with in this world: Magic, Loneliness, Friendship, Identity, Be- longing, Evil, Treachery, Abuse, Competition, Learning, Tradition, Destiny. What kind of world is this? This is a world where there’s always some supernatural something or magical someone around to save the right people when they are in trouble. It’s a world where courage is rewarded, friendship is valued, and good triumphs over evil.
Steve Peha (Educator, Writer) explains the five facts of fiction (with a little help from Harry Potter)
Table of Contents
Fact #1: Fiction is all about character.
Harry Potter: 12 years old, black tousled hair, bright green eyes, glasses, lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Naïve, a bit shy at times, kind, compassionate, curious. Discovers that he is a wizard, and a rather famous one at that, when he is invited to attend the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is famous because, as an infant, he somehow survived an attack by Voldemort, the world’s most powerful evil wizard.Fact #2: Fiction is all about what a character wants.
More than anything in the world, Harry wants a family. He is orphaned as an infant when his parents are killed by Volde- mort. He is sent to live with his closest relatives, Petunia and Vernon Dursley, his uncle and aunt, and their exceedingly obnoxious son, Dudley. The Dursley’s treat him badly and, through their abuse and neglect, he grows up to be a lonely, confused, and often depressed young boy.Fact #3: Fiction is all about how a character gets or does not get what he or she wants.
Does Harry get what he wants? In a way, yes he does. Harry joins the family of wiz- ards at Hogwarts. During his first year as a member of Gryffindor House, he forms sibling-like bonds with Hermione Granger and the Weasley brothers. Hagrid, the school groundskeeper, is like an uncle or a big brother to Harry; Dumbledore takes on a fatherly role. Together, these people be- come the family Harry lost when Voldemort killed his parents.Fact #4: Fiction is all about how a character changes.
In the beginning, Harry is sul- len and scared. He spends most of his time locked in a small closet beneath the basement stairs. When the Dursleys let him out, he is taunted and terrorized by their son Dudley. Harry is misera- ble and hopeless, a victim of his unfortunate circumstances.At the end of the story, while sad to be returning temporarily to the home of his aunt and uncle, Harry is no longer helpless, hopeless, and hapless. In his year at Hogwarts he has gained tremen- dous self-confidence and a better understanding of who he is and what his life is all about.
The lesson of the story is this: If we’re lucky enough to find out who we really are, and if we have the courage to claim our true power and embrace our destiny, we can take control of our world instead of letting it take control of us.
Fact #5: Fiction is all about a world an author creates.
Who are the people (and ani- mals) in this world? Muggles (regular humans), wizards, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Hermione, Ron, Voldemort, snooty professors, snotty cousins, a mean uncle and aunt, great friends, poor people, rich people, kind people, evil people, baby dragons, three-headed dogs, ghosts, and so on.What are the important places in the story? The Dursley’s home on Privet Drive, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Diagon Alley, the train station, the Quidditch field., Hagrid’s cottage, the forest.
What are the important things? Magic, quidditch, spells and potions, a lightning-shaped scar, the sorcerer’s stone, magic wands, flying brooms, a cape that makes you invisible, a mirror that shows you what you really want.
What ideas is the writer working with in this world: Magic, Loneliness, Friendship, Identity, Be- longing, Evil, Treachery, Abuse, Competition, Learning, Tradition, Destiny.
What kind of world is this? This is a world where there’s always some supernatural something or magical someone around to save the right people when they are in trouble. It’s a world where courage is rewarded, friendship is valued, and good triumphs over evil.
© 1995-2003 by Steve Peha. For more information, or additional teaching materials, please contact: Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. • E-mail stevepeha@ttms.org • Web www.ttms.org